ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Willful Devices (the duo) is a collaboration between composer/computer musician Scott Miller and performer/improviser Pat O’Keefe. The Twin Cities based duo’s name refers to the fact that both musicians are manipulating devices, be it a clarinet or a computer, in order to generate sonic material. Anyone who works with these tools knows that, sometimes, despite your best efforts, these devices are not fully under your control, and seem to have a mind of their own. Scott and Pat accept this fact, and even celebrate it, because within this unpredictability lies the potential for unimagined sonic discoveries. Much of the development of their music takes place during that unique time we all know as play. The results are vital, playful, dynamic, sincere, and a product of the connection between Scott and Pat and their unique musical identities.

Willful Devices (the CD) documents their celebration of the unexpected and unpredictable. It is a collection of composed, interactive electronics works (Chimeric Night), structured improvs (haiku, interrupted) and free improvs (Lattice XVIIb). The overall vibe of the recording can be summed up in the program notes to Arcata: